PUBLISHED : 4 Feb 2026 at 05:00
NEWSPAPER SECTION: News
Pakorn: Named new STSC chair
Thailand has assumed a significant leadership role in international space affairs after the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN Copuos) appointed Pakorn Apaphant, director of the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda), as chair of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (STSC) for 2026.
The STSC is one of two major subcommittees under UN Copuos, alongside the Legal Subcommittee.
It serves as the UN’s highest technical forum for shaping global space policy and governance. It addresses critical issues such as space debris, sp…
PUBLISHED : 4 Feb 2026 at 05:00
NEWSPAPER SECTION: News
Pakorn: Named new STSC chair
Thailand has assumed a significant leadership role in international space affairs after the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN Copuos) appointed Pakorn Apaphant, director of the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda), as chair of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (STSC) for 2026.
The STSC is one of two major subcommittees under UN Copuos, alongside the Legal Subcommittee.
It serves as the UN’s highest technical forum for shaping global space policy and governance. It addresses critical issues such as space debris, space weather, long-term sustainability of space activities, and space traffic management, providing the foundation for future international cooperation frameworks.
Mr Pakorn described the appointment as both an honour and a source of pride for Thailand, noting that the role requires not only technical expertise but also diplomatic skill to build consensus among member states amid intensifying geopolitical challenges.
Out of 110 UN Copuos member countries, only 14 nations have previously chaired the STSC. Thailand now becomes the 15th, elevating its global standing in space governance.